Expressing "stop doing" with "bie… le"
You may know how to make negative commands with "bie," but what if someone is already doing it? The pattern 别⋯⋯了 (bié... le) is all you need to tell someone to STOP DOING THAT (which they're already doing).
Contents
Structure
别 + Verb / [Verb Phrase] + 了
Instead of just a verb, it can also be a verb phrase.
Examples
- 别 说 了 ， 我 不 想 听 。Stop talking. I don't want to listen.
- 别 问 了 ， 我 不 想 说 。Stop asking. I don't want to say.
- 别 做 了 ，明天 做 吧 。Stop doing it. Do it tomorrow.
- 别 看 了，睡觉 ！Stop watching. Go to sleep!
- 别 哭 了 ！Stop crying!
- 别 笑 了 ，别人 都 在 看 你 。Stop laughing. Other people are looking at you.
- 别 吃 了 ，我们 要 迟到 了 。Stop eating. We're going to be late.
- 别 玩 了 ，去 写 作业 。Stop playing. Do your homework.
- 别 喝 了 ，你 已经 醉 了 。Stop drinking. You're already drunk.
Other Meaning
"别verb了"还可以表示否定对方的建议或者试图改变别人的想法。和前面的不同之处在于这个动作还没有发生。
A few examples:
- 别 买 了 ，太 贵 了 ！In this case, the person probably isn't actually paying, but she or he is thinking about it.Don't buy it. It's too expensive!
- 别 做饭 了 ，出去 吃 吧 。In this case, the person probably isn't actually cooking, but she or he is thinking about it.Let's go out for dinner instead of cook.
- 下雨 了 ，别 出去 了 。In this case, the person hasn't left yet, but she or he is thinking about going out.It's raining. Let's stay inside instead of going out.
See also
Sources and further reading
Books
- 现代汉语八百词（增订本） (pp. 83) [ →buy]
Dictionaries
- 现代汉语词典（第5版） (p. 92) →buy
